Arthur felt exhausted. More than exhausted. He felt as if he could sleep for months. But he was waking up nevertheless. As he opened his eyes, it took him a while to see that he was in some kind of alley way. It was open on either side and Arthur could vaguely see people on either side. In front of him was a blurry man. As he slowly came into focus, Arthur could see white hair and purple eyes staring right at him.
"Ivan," Arthur muttered and tried to get up, but he was far too exhausted to even move.
"You are tired, da?" Ivan asked curiously. "I would imagine you would be, breaking my curse. But you only had to use half of all your magic."
"What do you want from me?" Arthur muttered.
"One last request," Ivan smiled. "But I will get to that later. Now, I want to say congratulations."
"For what?" Arthur mumbled. He was incredibly tired now, but it was almost as if something was blocking him from falling asleep.
"You are done," Ivan stated. "And you have done well."
"Done with what?" Arthur asked. It was getting rather annoying how Ivan was avoiding the subject.
"In your story," Ivan said, "you were supposed to be my apprentice, da? I knew it from the moment I saw you. We made a deal in this story. Your Alfred's heart in exchange for you being my apprentice. In reality, the training was before that, but it did really start then."
"Training?" Arthur muttered.
"I lied when I said that this was the furthest you had got," Ivan shrugged. "You don't expect to just think a spell and be able to do it, da? It was years and years and years of practice."
"This was all just training?" Arthur asked. "All of the times I almost died, all of the times my friends almost died?"
"You are confused," Ivan stated. "Let me explain. I got my method from my own master, the Wizard before me. He was known as General Winter to everyone. Unlike myself, he was willing to kill me, and I only had one life to train. He acted as my enemy to make me fight harder, try harder. It made me stronger. I did the same for you. I tried very hard to set it up so that I would be your villain. I was known to most people as the evil Wizard. To the few that needed my help, I was the nice Wizard. I even had a Matthew Williams write a false, unfinished fairytale for Francis to read and tell you about.
"The Wizard is one who helps those in need of it. Not just regular people that need help, nyet. These people need help for something regular people are ignorant to; magic. Elizaveta came to me because her story continued on repeat. Feliciano came to me because the wolf was taking over. I promised to help them, but one of your challenges was to act as the Wizard once. You helped Feliciano, da?
"Your magic far surpasses my own. You were able to push my curse back and with every inch you gained, you were giving Alfred emotions. Most of the time, they were not able to stay. As time went on, you were able to stick them into his head. When the curse broke, you gave him all of his emotions, probably without thinking."
"Alfred said that was you," Arthur muttered.
"Why would I waste my time on that when I have his heart?" Ivan asked.
"You said I was done," Arthur stated. "That means you will give it back?"
"Nyet," Ivan shook his head. "Remember my request? General Winter's last challenge for me was to kill him. The Wizard can live forever, only his apprentice can kill him. Living forever is not fun. Living this long, dealing with not only my own issues, but you and Alfred and those others and others' problems on top of that has exhausted me. I know how General Winter felt and I will gladly welcome death."
"You want me to kill you?" Arthur asked, starting to feel more awake.
"There is only one spell that will kill us. That is why you could never die, not my blessing. Our magic constantly protects us without even our knowledge. It has saved my life many times. This spell is something only we have the power to use. Granted, you could probably do it with a quarter of your power."
"I can't…kill…" Arthur shook his head.
"It will mark the end of your training," Ivan stated. "This spell is enough to make you go mad. Go on a rampage killing everything. It was what drove General Winter over the edge. I have something that will help you, though," Ivan dug into his coat and pulled out a simple apple. "Remember this? This apple will diffuse any feelings you get from the spell. It will put you into a sleep. One that can only be awoken from with the aid of true love's kiss. I have no worries with that part. Once you are awake, you will have his heart.
"There is one issue, though," Ivan sighed before Arthur could say something. "It cannot be this one. It is true love's first kiss, it does not work the way they make you believe. It only works on the first meeting of your love. To Alfred, it will be your first meeting…for that life."
"You talk like you expect me to kill you," Arthur stated. "I can't. I won't."
"I should have made you kill more, then," Ivan smiled before dropping it once more. "I need you to kill me. It is not a blessing to live forever, you will learn soon when you have your own apprentice."
"It's the only way I can get Alfred's heart?" Arthur asked.
"Da," Ivan nodded. "You will not be able to find it on your own, believe me."
Arthur looked to his right side, where he could see Alfred, Matthew, and Francis pounding against an invisible wall.
"Alright, I'll do it," Arthur nodded slowly.
"Very good," Ivan stated and Arthur felt all of his energy and strength return to him in a moment.
"Will they know that it can't be this Alfred?" Arthur asked, slowly moving to stand up.
"They will find out, won't they?" Ivan stated
"What of everyone else?" Arthur asked. "The three you used as puppets, Peter? They are not a part of our original story and they won't continue. What will happen to them?"
"They will die at the end of this life," Ivan shrugged. "The ones directly involved in your story will continue on as usual. Your brothers are among these. What do the others have to do with anything?"
"They're friends," Arthur stated.
"You make many friends as you live," Ivan stated. "Not all of them can live forever."
"What about your sisters?" Arthur asked.
"They are only alive because of me at this point," Ivan sighed. "Once I am gone, they will leave, as well."
"Are you sure you really wish to die?" Arthur asked.
"Da," Ivan nodded, tossing the apple to Arthur, who easily caught it. "In your sleep, you will remember all of your past lives and you will also see Alfred's as he tries to find you once again. Once you give him his heart, he will remember all of his past as well. The others will be up to you if you wish them to know."
"After you're dead," Arthur muttered, "I will become the Wizard?"
Ivan nodded. "You will take my responsibility and assist those who need your help. It is a job that will never pay you, except for 'thank you's, and it is the only thing you will be able to do."
"I do not have much of a choice, do I?" Arthur sighed, staring down at the apple.
"Nyet," Ivan chuckled.
"Good luck in the afterlife, then, whatever it is," Arthur nodded to him.
"You will learn that in time," Ivan smirked.
Arthur had no idea what to say at that point. Thank you? For nearly killing me all those times? It was for the best? Arthur just simply closed his eyes and tried to focus. It was quite a deal easier than before and, before long, Arthur heard something thud onto the ground. He opened his eyes, but something was definitely off. He held out his hand to put the invisible wall that Ivan had back up to prevent the others from coming near.
Something was definitely wrong, but he couldn't tell what. He was shaking and the corners of his vision were going red.
"Bloody hell," Arthur muttered, trying to shake his head. Ivan was right about this part. Arthur had no idea what was happening and he had no intention to find out. Ivan knew what he was talking about, so Arthur didn't want to just wait around for it to get worse, when he won't want to bite the apple.
Arthur glanced at Alfred, who was pounding as hard as he could against the wall, before turning back to the apple. Before he could have second thoughts, he bit down on it and started chewing. He was already feeling drowsy by the time he swallowed it and, for what he hoped would be the last time, the world went black.
"Shit, Arthur," Alfred muttered, watching Arthur fall onto the ground. It was enough he couldn't get to him after he started falling, he just randomly disappeared. It was enough that his brothers had to find him first. It was enough that this damn wall had to hold him back. But seeing Ivan near Arthur made his skin crawl. Seeing Ivan drop made him confused. Seeing Arthur drop again…there were no words.
Finally, the wall dropped and Alfred ran as quickly as he could to get to Arthur's side. He barely made it before the brothers and checked to make sure Arthur was breathing.
"What the bloody hell happened?" Scott demanded, kneeling next to them.
"I-I don't know," Alfred shook his head, trying desperately to find something to do about Arthur. How the hell was he so calm in the past when he saw Arthur passed out like this?
"He's dead," Matthew muttered.
"No, Arthur's fine," Alfred muttered. "I-I just checked, he's breathing."
"He's not talking about Arthur," Ian stated.
"What?" Alfred looked up and looked over to where everyone else was looking. It was Ivan, who was crumpled onto the ground, and he definitely wasn't breathing. "What happened?"
"He'll tell us when he wakes up," Connor stated. "Right?"
"Of course," Alfred stated. "Artie, wake up. Come on."
"I do not think that will work," Francis sighed, kneeling next to Alfred and holding out a blood-red apple with a bite taken out of it.
"Ivan said that apple would kill him," Alfred stated. "He couldn't have eaten it."
"Since when have you been so emotional?" Scott asked.
"I saw him fall," Alfred muttered, looking back down at Arthur, who was smiling cutely in his sleep. "I don't know what happened, but I just got all of my emotions back. I don't think my heart, though. Anyway, if he's not dead, then the apple just made him sleep, right? I-I can wake him up, right?"
"True love's kiss," Matthew shrugged, stepping away from Ivan's dead body.
"Yeah," Alfred nodded and bent down, placing his lips on top of Arthur's. He pulled back, expecting Arthur to look up at him with some sort of flustered look. Or possibly even slap him. But he didn't even move. Arthur just laid there, still in his sleep. "What? No…" Alfred tried again, but when he pulled back Arthur's head simply lolled to the side.
"Found 'em!" Gilbert yelled and more people ran into the alley way. "When he teleported, we had a hard time trying to find him again."
"Art," Scott's voice shook slightly. "Quit messing around. Wake up."
"Dios mio," Antonio muttered.
"Arthur," Alfred felt himself begin to cry. All the emotions in his head were hard to control at this point. "Please. Don't…Don't do this. I just got all of my emotions."
"He's just asleep, right?" Feliciano asked in the background. "That means he'll wake up eventually, right?"
"I do not think so," Francis said sadly.
"No, it has to work!" Alfred yelled out. "He has to wake up! I-I love him…"
"Love can't win all your battles," Ian muttered. Alfred looked up at the three brothers and they looked rather distraught, too.
"Our lives are supposed to be a freaking fairytale, right?" Alfred snapped. "Then why the hell isn't it ending like a fairytale?"
"Maybe because the one orchestrating it is dead?" Matthew offered.
"It can't end like this," Alfred shook his head, holding Arthur closer to him. "No…I won't let it."
"Look, kid," Scott sighed. "I don't think there's much you can do to help him. What's done is done."
"He ate the apple for a reason," Alfred stated, looking up at him. "Ivan is dead for a reason. I-I don't know what those reasons are, but it makes me think that there's a way to wake him up."
"If that true love's kiss thing didn't work," Gilbert sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "I'm afraid we're shit outta luck."
"Arthur, if you can hear me," Alfred looked down at Arthur's peaceful, sleeping face, "I will wake you up. I promise. I don't know how long it will take, but I'll do it. I promise we'll get our happily ever after."
"So, he's still alive, right?" Feliciano asked.
"Ja, Feli, he is," Ludwig stated.
"So, where are we going to put him?" Feliciano asked.
"It's not like we can just put him in the hotel," Matthew muttered. "He could be there for a while."
"We should bring him home," Connor stated. "He hasn't been there in years."
"The home he did not want to be in?" Francis chimed in.
"There really isn't any other place he stayed in," Scott sighed. "Or at least long enough to consider it home."
"He may have started to like it here," Alfred tried.
"While his life was constantly on the line?" Scott scoffed.
"He did seem his happiest here," Francis stated. "When he wasn't risking his life. Out of any other place, he smiled and laughed the most here."
"So, we just stick him in a hospital?" Ian asked.
"That could be the best place to take care of him," Alfred said. "Like this, I don't think he can eat or drink or anything."
"Then we can go to one back home," Scott stated.
"And if he doesn't want that?" Alfred asked.
"Then he'll get over it," Scott rolled his eyes.
"I won't take him anywhere I know he won't want to go," Alfred stated.
"Then I will," Scott sighed and tried to reach over to Arthur, but some sort of barrier stopped him before he could even touch him. "What?"
"Is he doing that?" Alfred muttered.
"What, you can't touch him?" Ian asked and stepped forward to try, but the barrier stopped him, too.
"Whoa, can only Alfred touch him?" Peter's voice asked in awe.
"When did you get here?" Alfred looked up at him.
"A few seconds ago," Peter shrugged. "I think you should let him stay here."
"You don't really have a choice now," Alfred smirked. "Since I'm the only one who can touch him."
"Just because the brat says it," Scott sighed, but Peter cut him off.
"Brat?" Peter pouted and Scott's hair soon lit on fire.
"Everyone seems to like doing that," Ian laughed as Scott put out his hair.
"As much as I love watching you guys fight over someone who's passed out next to a dead guy," Gilbert sighed, "let's just bring Mister Magic to a hospital and call it good."
"So that's why the jerk's like that," Peter muttered, glancing over at Ivan. "I should probably do something with him…"
"Like what?" Gilbert laughed. "Give the bastard a burial?"
"Ivan wasn't like that," Feliciano muttered.
"Hey, the jerk knows, so I'm cool with that," Peter shrugged.
"Knows what?" Matthew asked.
"You'll figure it out eventually," Peter stated and calmly walked in front of Ivan's body. "He did a lot for you guys, he wasn't a bastard." With a smile, Peter vanished along with Ivan.
"Arthur knows?" Alfred looked back down at Arthur. "What happened?"
"Let's just get him to a hospital, alright?" Scott sighed. "I'm sure we'll be able to afford however much it may be."
"Alright," Alfred nodded and stood up, holding Arthur princess-style easily.
"I wonder if I'll ever be able to give him a real thank you," Feliciano muttered.
"Well, I've promised that I'll wake him up," Alfred smiled. "Once I do, you'll get to say anything you want to him."
"Knowing how long it took you guys to get this far," Connor sighed, "it could take quite a while."
"Why are you guys such downers," Alfred groaned. "I said I'll wake him up and that means it'll happen. No matter how long that'll take. Considering how long he worked to help me, it's the least I can do."
"You better make good on your promise," Ian warned.
"Otherwise we'll come find ya," Scott nodded.
"Didn't I say I would protect him with my life?" Alfred smiled. "He'll be fine. I know it."
And so they started towards the city's hospital, where Arthur would stay for free for fighting off both the wolf and the dragon. Where Arthur would have to wait a long, long time before he could wake up again.
This is, like, the calmest chapter in the whole story, I think. Even though there was character death... I'm sorry to all Russia fans! Don't kill me! It had to be done, I swear. Now I'm just gonna go hide and say that there is one chapter left before the end.
Please review.